Working to Gather Money

"Mhm... Yawn~"

Opening his eyes, Raka raised his hand and stretched it out.

"So, this is all not a dream?"

As his drowsiness gradually disappeared, he looked around the cheap inn room he had reserved yesterday.

"Staying one night plus food costs 5000 eris, I only have 4000 eris left, which is not enough to pay for the next night's stay. As expected from the capital of the Belzerg Kingdom, the cost of living here is much higher than in Axel City."

"Furthermore, I need to gather 10,000 eris if I want to pay for the basic training fee from the veteran adventurers."

Thinking about money problems, Raka felt dizzy.

Yesterday, the girl at the counter named Clara gave him advice to purchase training services.

The Adventurer Guild hires retired adventurers to train novice adventurers. Thus, improving the survival chances of novice adventurers.

Of course, it's not free; novice adventurers are required to pay 10,000 eris. Besides, the Adventurer Guild is not a charity organization.

"Well, how do I earn money quickly."

Getting out of bed, Raka opened the window, the cold morning air hit his face, and he saw the streets filled with people starting their activities.

"Attending the training course is a must. Although I have consumed the Toki Toki no Mi and can manipulate time, due to my poor physical fitness foundation, among the three skills I developed, none of them are offensive methods."

Now he slightly regretted rarely engaging in physical activities and being lazy about exercising, which resulted in his basic attributes being only slightly better than adult women, but weaker than adult men.

"If I face monsters directly in my current condition, I'm afraid I'll be killed. Therefore, I need training from a professional."

"10,000 eris for a two-day training session, huh... I can't afford to lose my precious life just because I'm stingy."

Raka decided on his next course of action.

"Oh right, I'm curious about the progress of other Aggressors."

Out of curiosity, he summoned the interface in his mind and looked at the [Ranking].

...

✧Ranking Quest:

1. Eva (Aggressor 01)

2. Invincible (Aggressor 66)

3. Shadow (Aggressor 50)

4. Overlord (Aggressor 32)

5. Pluto (Aggressor 08)

.

.

.

18. Mikazuki (Aggressor 12)

.

.

.

32. Flame (Aggressor 100)

...

"Even after other Aggressors started taking action, Eva remains at rank 1. She's not an ordinary person, most likely talented and a genius."

Raka wasn't surprised to see his ranking drop; instead, he had expected it to happen.

The reason he previously ranked second was only because he acted slightly faster.

Now that other Aggressors have reacted, it's no wonder he's been pushed out. Anyway, he's just an ordinary person.

"Out of 100 Aggressors, only 32 have made it onto the [Ranking] list... Oh well, their fate is not my concern."

Shaking his head, Raka stopped worrying about others.

He himself couldn't guarantee his survival, so why worry about the safety of strangers he didn't know?

Then, Raka washed his face with cold water in a wooden bucket behind the inn.

This cheap inn doesn't provide bathrooms.

"This is why I don't like the medieval era. The cleanliness standards in this feudal era are very poor."

Wiping his body with a wet towel, Raka complained softly.

Only nobles, royal families, and wealthy merchants have bathrooms in their residences.

If commoners want to bathe, they usually fetch water from wells, bathe in rivers, or go to public baths.

"Phew... Thank goodness I'm used to cold water baths since elementary school."

Putting on yesterday's clothes, Raka went to the restaurant on the inn's first floor, ate dry bread and vegetables, and then went to look for a job.

❀❀❀

"Hah Hah Hah..."

While lifting the wooden beam on his shoulder, Raka panting heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, his clothes soaked with his own sweat. Nevertheless, he didn't utter a single complaint and continued working.

"This is it."

"Oh, good job, newbie. You did well on your first day of work."

"Hah Hah... This... This is not a big deal... In that case, I'll take the next one... Hah Hah..."

"O-Ouh."

Under the curious gaze of the other construction workers, Raka stepped forward with trembling legs.

Previously, he went around the capital looking for a job. Unfortunately, no one wanted to hire him.

Become a cook? He can't cook.

Become a courier? He's not familiar with the streets of the capital.

Become a guard? He looks weak and doesn't know self-defense.

Become a merchant? He doesn't have capital.

When Raka thought about how useless he was, he decided to imitate Satoru Kazuma.

If a Hiki-Neet like Kazuma could be accepted to work at a construction site, why not him?

Because of the regular attacks by the Devil King's forces that always destroy buildings around the capital, construction workers are always short-handed.

Thus, Raka was accepted to work at a construction site even though he didn't look strong.

"Today is so hot. Why aren't there any clouds?"

Lifting the wooden beam and placing it on his shoulder, Raka felt like his weight had dropped by several hundred grams today due to the amount of sweat.

As he was about to deliver the wooden beam to its previous place, a magical loudspeaker suddenly sounded throughout the capital.

*📢📢📢*

*📢📢📢*

*📢📢📢*

"Warning from the Devil King's Forces!"

"Warning from the Devil King's Forces!"

"The trusted forces of the Devil King have come to the fields near the capital! All Knights are requested to prepare!"

"High-level adventurers in the palace are requested to assist!"

Hearing this announcement, everyone stopped working and rushed to the shelter.

"Hey, newbie, don't just stand there! Quickly go to the shelter! The Devil King's Forces are attacking; we must evacuate immediately."

One of the construction workers named Roger saw Raka not moving from his place, so he shouted at him.

"Ah, okay!"

Snapping out of his daze, Raka quickly dropped the wooden beam and ran to the shelter with Roger.

There are shelters everywhere built in the capital, so people don't have to worry about not finding a place.

Raka squeezed with others in the shelter, waiting for adventurers and knights to drive away the Devil King's Forces.

(This is a very dangerous world, even protagonists die several times. If it weren't for Aqua resurrecting him, Kazuma would have a hard time surviving without cheats like other Japanese reincarnators)

(However, this is no longer anime but reality. I'm not like Kazuma who can come back to life no matter how many times he dies. Once I die, that's it, I have to be careful in every action)

(Power... I need power to protect myself...)

This incident made Raka even thirstier for power. He didn't want to be like other ordinary people who could only hide when a crisis occurs.